[Ads-l] Snasu (variant), was Re: Antedating of "Snafu" by Barry Popik

[Stephen Goranson]

Oct. 26 , 1941, Charlotte Observer [NC; AmHistN; "...Army Lingo..."] 48/4
Snasu: an expression of disgust when things go wrong. Literally "Situation normal, all screwed up."

[GB gives snafu also as 1941, but not confirmed.]

Stephen Goranson

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2020 11:07 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Antedating of "Snafu" by Barry Popik

I cannot overstate the riches that are contained in Barry Popik's wonderful website barrypopik.com.  Here is an antedating he has for "snafu."  This is a slight antedating in terms of chronology, but I think it is worth highlighting because "snafu" is such an important term.

snafu (OED 1941 [Sept.])

5 June 1941, Daily Times (Chicago, IL), pg. 10, col. 2:
Army’s all snafu
Snakes, bugs halt ‘battle march
By KEITH WHEELER
(TIMES Staff Correspondent)
Bell Buckle, Tenn., June 5.—“Everything, said 1st. Lieut. Robert G. Anderson, executive officer of company G. 2d battalion, (New York) infantry, 27th division “is turning out snafu.”
(...)
What,” The Times asked, “does snafu means?”

Fred Shapiro

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